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Inefficiencyand non-useof funds

At a time when the poorest of the poor among the world community are calling for more and more foreign aid in cash and kind to make ends meet, Sri Lanka has earned the notoriety of being appallingly incapable of fully utilizing foreign assistance which is channelled to it for worthy purposes. This is underscored by recent moves by the World Bank to withdraw some Rs. 3.5 billion which was allocated to Sri Lanka for the upgrading of educational infrastructure and other development projects in the country’s schools. Sri Lanka’s educational authorities, however, are reportedly engaging World Bank officials in negotiations aimed at halting this move which was prompted by the non-utilization of the relevant funds.

At a media briefing where these disclosures were made, it was pointed out by Education Minister Dr. Karunasena Kodituwakku that only half of the total amount of World Bank funds allocated for the five-year General Education Development Project II were utilized over the past three and a half years. Some of the tasks coming under the project were, curricula development, restructuring of schools, school library development and the upgrading of management systems. Education Ministry Secretary V.K. Nanayakkara was quoted attributing this sad situation to “inefficiency, mismanagement and inattention on the part of provincial councils”.

With another local government election on the cards, these disclosures should prompt some searching analyses of where we have gone wrong. If it is true that provincial councils are not fully capable of utilizing foreign funds efficiently in important projects, then, the message which is being sent out is that some people’s representatives at provincial level are not adequately competent to handle their responsibilities.

This has wide implications. The inefficiency which is reflected by the provincial councils refocuses on the need for political parties and independent groups to field candidates who possess all-round capabilities, regardless of whether the polls are held at national, provincial or local levels. The fielding of inadequately qualified candidates leads to poorly-functioning governing institutions at all levels. This lesson has to be learnt and acted on by the authorities.

The Government has set itself the admirable task of reviving the economy in 100 days. If this program is to bear fruit, it goes without saying that the “right woman or man has to be in the right place”. This means that public appointments have to be made on merit and merit alone. 

If this is not done, little or no progress will be made in the 100-day program.

We saw how efforts to please psychophants and camp-followers in state and other institutions played a major role in bringing the PA government into disrepute. This eventually resulted in the economy registering a zero growth rate. These valuable lessons of the past must be learnt and relearnt.

Besides getting suitably-qualified persons into governing bodies and other important institutions, the Government should also hold these persons accountable for the efficient, corruption-free discharge of duties. 

• Editorial of  The Observer - 11.02.2002
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